Convertible bench and table



NOV. 8, 1960 c, LAKlN 2,959,209

CONVERTIBLE BENCH AND TABLE Filed July 7, 1958 I 1 d INVENTOR.

,4 w. 6. 14km Unite 2,959,209 Patented Nov. 8, 1960 CONVERTIBLE BENCHAND TABLE Paul C. Lakin, 4370 Stewart St., Los Angeles 66, Calif.

Filed July 7, 1958, Ser. No. 746,691

4 Claims. (Cl. 15543) lhis invention relates to articles of furniture,and more particularly to an improved furniture item suitable for use asa bench or a table.

Various attempts have been made in the past to provide a convertiblebench and table, wherein a flat panel is adapted to be placed in ahorizontal position above a fixed seat so as to provide a table, and isalso adapted to be placed in a position wherein it forms a back restadjacent the seat. However, in all instances heretofore known, theseattempts have resulted in articles of furniture comprising a pluralityof parts, which make the article unduly expensive, and which arecumbersome to operate in converting from table form to bench form andfrom bench form to table form.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved combinationbench and table in which a fixed seat portion and a movable panel arelinked together in a simple manner, and which is characterized by easeof assembly and operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved article offurniture which can be converted to a bench or a table, in which a seathas fixed extensions for supporting a table top at a desired height, andin which the table top is linked to such extensions to permit it to belowered along said extensions to rest adjacent the seat for forming aback rest.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined bench andtable having a minimum number of component parts of simple design andrugged construction, capable of being used in pairs to provide a sturdytable top having seats on opposite sides thereof, and in which the tabletops are linked to the seats by elements which aid in positioning andsupporting them so as to form the back rest for a bench.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a convertible benchand table comprising a minimum of elements, which can be shippedunassembled and readily put together by the consumer.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of the convertible bench andtable of this invention, showing its use as a picnic table having alarge table top and sturdy seats on opposite sides thereof;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the articles of furnitureconverted to a bench, and showing details of the arrangement of the linkelements for supporting the back rest in the proper position;

Figures 3-5 are end elevation views of the combined bench and table ofthis invention, to illustrate the operation of the link elements inmoving the back rest to the horizontal position where it forms the topof a table;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a shelf and means forlocking the movable panel to the shelf when the article is in tableform; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of Figure 5, toshow how the links are connected to the associated parts.

While furniture articles embodying my invention may be employed as anitem of household furniture, the invention will be described withreference to an article of furniture designed primarily for outdoor use.Accordingly, the table form may be used as a picnic or barbecue table,and the bench form may be utilized at other times as desired, e.g., apatio bench. As shown in Figure 1, two articles of furniture 10 in tableform are placed together to provide a large picnic or barbecue tablehaving seats on opposite sides thereof.

The furniture article of this invention comprises two spaced supportmembers 12, 14 having respective pairs of crossed legs 15, 16 and 17,18. The legs 15, 17 are considerably longer than the other legs 16, 18.As shown, the pairs of legs are crossed adjacent the upper ends of theshort legs 16, 18, and are secured together by a nut and boltarrangement 19.

A seat member 20 is supported at the upper ends of the short legs 16,18. To this end, bars or braces 21, 22 are provided which abut both thelegs 15, 16 and 17, 18, and which have upper horizontal edges which liein the same plane as the upper ends of the legs 16, 18. Secured to thetops of the braces 21, 22 and the legs 16, 18 are respective horizontalpanels 23, 24, to which the seat 20 is fixed.

As shown, the seat 20 is spaced from the legs 15, 17 thus leaving aportion of the seat support panels 23, 24 exposed. As will be explainedmore fully hereinafter, this arrangement permits one edge of a back restto be supported against the panels 23, 24.

The upper ends of the legs 15, 17 terminate in portions 15', 17' havinghorizontal edges of greater width than the main portions thereof. Ahorizontal shelf 25 (see Figure 2) is secured between the horizontalportions 15', 17 to provide a surface on which to set movable items whenthe article of furniture is in bench form.

For converting the article of furniture from table to bench form, andvice versa, and also for supporting the back rest of the invention inthe desired position, this invention provides a pair of rigid linkelements 26, 27. At one end, the links 26, 27 are pivotally connected,as at 29 and 30, to the leg portions 15', 17'. The opposite ends of thelinks 26, 27 are pivotally connected, as at 32 and 33, to a pair of barsor braces 34, 35. The links are disposed between the leg portions 15',17' and the bars 34, 35 so that the bars can be moved with respect tothe legs.

Figure 7 shows a nut and bolt arrangement for mounting the links 27 onthe leg portion 17' and bar 35. As shown, a pair of bolts 40, 41 extendin opposite directions through the link 27 adjacent its ends. The headsof the bolts are disposed in countersunk openings 42,

43 in the body of the link, so as to permit the bar 35 to be movedfreely about the bolt 41, and to permit the link to move freely aboutthe bolt 40. The ends of the bolts 40, 41 extend through the leg portion17 and the bar 35, respectively; and nuts 45, 46 are threaded thereon.

A pair of support panels 50, 51 are secured to the upper edges of therespective bars 34, 35. As shown, in phantom in Figure 7, the, panel 51is equal to the combined widths of the bar 35, the link 27, and the legportion 17. Accordingly, in the parallel positions of the links 26, 27,the support panels 50, 51 have their lower surfaces in abutment with theupper ends of the leg portions 15, 17'. Thus, elongated board members 52secured to the panels 50, 51 are held in a horizontal position therewithto form the top of a table (see Figure 5 When it is desired to convertthe article of furniture from a table to a bench, all that is necessaryis to tilt the rear edge of the table top to permit the panels 50,

51 to move forward along the upper edges of the leg portions 15', 17(see Figure 4). The forward edges of the panels 50, 51 are caused totilt downwardly, by the action of the links 26, 27 pivoting about theleg portions 15, 17'. When the links 26, 2.7 have reached asubstantially vertical position, the forward edges of the panels 38, 39are in engagement with the forward edges of the legs 15, 17 a shortdistance above the seat 20. At this point, a slight forward movement ofthe rear edge of the table top (now the upper edge of the back rest fora bench) causes the upper ends of the links 26, 27 to tilt forwardly,and the forward edges of the panels 38, 39 to engage the exposed uppersurfaces of the panels 23, 24. The panels 50, 51 may be eased into thisposition by grasping the lower horizontal board member 52 and exerting aslight restraining force while the panels 50, 51,are moving along thelegs 15, 17.

When the lower edges of the panels 50, 51 thus engage the surfaces ofthe panels 23, 24, there is a slight gap between the lowermost boardmember 52 and the adjacent edge of the seat 20.

The links 26, 27 are of such length that, upon converting the article tobench form, they will be substantially normal to the plane of the panels38, 39, and hence of the back rest. Thus, when a person leans backagainst the back rest, the links 26, 27 are in a position to prevent theback rest from moving backwards. Thus, the links support the back restin the desired position, as well as facilitating conversion of thearticle from table to bench form, and vice versa.

In converting from bench to table form, one grasps the lower edge of thepanel 52 and pulls upwards. Thereupon the sequence of positions shown inFigures 3, 4 and 5 are successfully assumed.

It may be desired to lockthe panels 52 in position when the article isin table form. This may be accomplished in a simple manner (see Figure6) as by securing an L-shaped bracket 55 to one of the panels 52 by thethreaded end of a bolt 55 passed through one leg thereof. When desired,the bracket is swiveled on the bolt, as shown, so that the lower legthereof fits under the shelf 25.

While the embodiment of my invention herein shown and describedillustrates the advantages of my invention, .it will be understood thatmany modifications can be made to this invention without departing fromthe scope thereof. Therefore, I do not intend to be limited in myinvention to the particular embodiment herein described, but only bythe, appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A combined bench and table comprising: two pairs of upstandingmembers, each comprising a pair of crossed elements of differentlengths; a seat secured to the upper ends of the shorter elements; apair of links each pivotally connected at one point to the upper end ofa respective longer element; a pair of rigid bars pivotally connected toother points of the respective links; a pair of flat members secured tosaid bars, the width of each said member being at least equal to thecombined thicknesses of a longer element, a link element and a bar;

and a panel secured to said flat members, said links permitting movementof said panel between first and second rest positions, said panel insaid first position being supported on the upper ends of said longerelements parallel to said seat, said panel in said second positionhaving one edge thereof abutting said seat, said links in said secondposition holding the opposite edge of said panel member spaced from theupper ends of said longer elements, said links constituting load bearingelements to maintain said panel in said second position when force isapplied normal to the plane of said panel member.

2. A combined bench and table comprising: two pairs of upstandingmembers, .eachcomprising a pair of crossed elements of differentlengths; a seat secured to the-upper ends of the shorter elements; apair of links each pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of arespective longer element; a pair of rigid bars pivotally connected toother ends of the respective links, said links being disposed betweenthe associated bars and longer elements; a pair of flat members securedto said bars, the width of each said member being at least equal to thecombined thicknesses of a longer element, a link element and a bar; anda panel disposed generally parallel to said seat, said panel having oneedge nearer said seat than its opposite edge, said panel being securedadjacent said opposite edge to said flat members.

3. A convertible bench and table comprising: a seat having spacedsupport members extending upwardly from one edge'thereof, said supportmembers terminating at their upper ends in horizontal surface areas; a rctangular panel member spanning said support membe s, said panel memberbeing adapted to serve as a tablet p or a backrest for said seat; and alink element pivotally mounted at one end on the upper end of eachsupport member, said link elements being of equal length, said linkelements being sufficiently long so that the opposite ends thereof areclear of the upper ends of said support members when pivoted forwardlyor rearwardly thereon, said link elements at their opposite ends beingpivotally connected to said panel member adjacent the edge thereofremote from said seats, said link elements being pivoted on said supportmembers by movement of said panel member, said link elements whendisposed rearwardly of the upper ends of said support members permittingsaid panel member to be supported on the horizontal surfaces areas ofsaid support members, said link elements when disposed forwardly of theupper ends of said support members holding said one edge of said panelmember spaced forwardly of the upper ends of said support members andpermitting the opposite edge of said panel member to rest against theadjacent edge of said seat.

4. A convertible bench and table comprising: a seat having spacedintegral support members extending upwardly from one edge thereof; apanel member spanning said support members; and means to permit saidpanel member to be placed in a first position where it is supported bythe upper ends of said longer leg members to serve as a tabletop, and ina second position wherein one edge thereof is supported adjacent oneedge of said seat and the opposite edge thereof is held above andrearwardly of said one edge edge to form a backrest for the seat, saidmeans including respective link element pivotally connected at one endto the upper end of respective support element, said link elements atthei opposite ends being pivotally connected to said panel memberadjacent said opposite edge thereof, whereby in said first and secondpositions of said panel member said opposite ends of the link elementsare located respectively rearwardly and forwardly of the upper ends ofsaid support members, said panel member in its second position restingagainst said opposite ends of said link elements, said link elementsbeing of a length to support said opposite edge of the panel member,when in said second position, spaced forwardly from the upper ends ofsaid support members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS894,299 Weinberg July 28, 1908 1,369,661 Hopkins Feb. 22,1921 1,757,960Greenstreet May 13, 1930 1,792,737 Greenstreet Feb. 17, 1931 2,506,606McCaw May 9, 1950 2,506,852 Barcus May 9, 1950 2,702,584 Williams et alFeb. 22,1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,057 Great Britain 1865

